Uganda Holds Her Own
Marvin drinking in the views of Kabale's hills
Just how much can be said about one of the world’s most entrepreneurial countries rife with nature in abundance, having one of the youngest population demographics and being the third largest refugee hosting nation in the world? That is Uganda, poised to be one of the fastest growing nations in Africa, for you in a nutshell. Long gone are the tired stereotypes that painted suffering. When writing a 1,000 word piece about it, it’s hard to capture its essence and now as the words are laid out below, a sort of renewed appreciation for the country is aroused, making you wish you could come back 1,000 years from today to see what has become of it.
A Map Showing Uganda and its Neighboring Countries
Land-locked away in East Africa, Uganda sits in the center of the great nations of Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Congo, and South Sudan. With a growing 40 million-strong national population, the country’s men and women all belong to one of the 56 ethnic tribes presenting a unified grace. A lot has been said about the nation. Winston Churchill called it the “Pearl of Africa” owing to its uniqueness of having the world’s second largest freshwater lake, Lake Victoria, the source of the world’s second longest river, River Nile, and national parks that are home to flocks of wildlife, some of which have been saved from the brink of extinction, like the Gorilla. But this is only a meagre portion of what is on offer. Many others have called it the land of opportunities, which has helped to recant the decay the media has reverberated for decades about Africa’s helplessness.
What some people may not know is that some classic films have been based on a Ugandan event; The BAFTA Award winning drama film Last King of Scotland, a Kerry Washington feature portraying the story of an egoistic Idi Amin, The Queen of Katwe, blessed with Lupita Nyong’o’s acting prowess, and of course Black Panther which is now a staple in film. Uganda has also produced some of the brightest human beings – just look at Winnie Byanyima, an inclusion advocate currently in her tenure as Executive Director of UNAIDS and formerly of Oxfam International.
But all this positivity is not without its setbacks, as seen by the low living standards caused by limited infrastructure, electricity, income inequality, etc. A ponder and reflection on the country’s make-up will land you on four major conclusions about Uganda: perseverance, a graceful people, culture, and nature all intertwined in one.
The Main Attraction
You might wonder why you should concern yourself with all things Uganda. For decades, through folklore and a disheartening representation of Africa, the continent was branded as one of disease-ridden poor people, war, conflict, and helplessness. That narrative needs to be corrected. What you will see are people on the move juggling three demanding jobs to make ends meet, bodabodas (bicycle or motorcycle taxis) weaving through rush hour, and upscale shopping malls, to mention but a few. Just ask any of the migrants who have settled in the country, and they can attest to this.
A few years after gaining her colonial independence in 1962, there was a period of political turmoil that would later squash whatever economic upturn had been achieved. Somehow a country that was on an upward trajectory was left wrung in the shackles of conflict and economic instability. Those who lived out this experience tell tales of political assassinations, expulsion of a flourishing Asian community, and job loss. Since then, the people have turned lemons into lemonade with the advent of agriculture production, industry, and the dawn of a new age of entrepreneurialism.
However, the benefits accruing from this advent have not reached everyone – many people still live in poverty. It is worse for energy access because over 70% of the population are without it. Being an agricultural-dependent economy, the effect of global climate change has become a looming threat as felt by the scorching sunshine and unusual weather patterns that disrupt seasonal yield for subsistence households. And it’s in part because of the littlest of things: plastic bag-strewn roads, dependence on firewood for cooking and kerosene for light at night. The sad but true realization, though, is that Uganda, along with her neighbors, contribute the least to global climate change but are most vulnerable to its impact.
Uganda has potential for sustainable off-grid household living. One family of eight in the district of Nakasongola is living this way. Living at least 30 km away from the nearest town, they could very well be in their own world. They have land that they cultivate for subsistence, milk cows that feed on the lush grass, and electricity provided by a solar home system provided and serviced by one of the 40 solar standard companies in the country. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many, mainly because of solar energy affordability.
Street Vendors in Uganda
In the face of these uncertainties, the people still possess an aura of a “can-do” attitude. It is that “can-do” attitude that has made it one of the most entrepreneurial countries in the world. If you took a stroll through any town or community, you are bound to see some type of business activity happening, whether it’s a kiosk selling handkerchiefs or an earphone hawker that will linger outside your car window as you sit in traffic. Even as we traverse COVID-19, being an entrepreneur draws a certain level of respect and admiration because of the assurance of comfort well beyond one’s productive years. This is compared to a 9-5 job regardless of whether one pulls in six or eight figures (in Uganda Shillings) a month.
When you combine zeal (the “can-do” attitude) with a means to a start, you will have a productive outcome. But what are the enablers of a means to a start especially for the excluded? The answer is initiatives like Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs). Uganda is part of the East African Community, an intergovernmental organization aiming to bolster trade. It is in the company of allies like Rwanda and Kenya’s Nairobi (dubbed the Silicon Savannah - a word play on Silicon Valley) and together, these nations now harbor a thriving ecosystem of eco-inclusive startups that are key to unlocking more entrepreneurial ability. Aid is also pushing this agenda forward especially when the aid facilitates trade to propagate sustainability. Handouts are quickly waning, and in its place the birth of necessary bottom-up approaches that are creating diverse opportunities. Video education, such as the kind that illuminAid teaches, is one such example of the hand-up approach. Uganda is also in her own race, gunning for middle income status by 2040 to avoid playing second fiddle to bigger economies like Nigeria and South Africa of Africa and to change the narrative in Africa, once called the “hopeless continent”.
Come one, come all.
Many people yearn to leave their cocoons to experience cultures outside their own. Culture in Uganda, both traditional and modern, is very much alive. A budding mix of millennials and Gen Z are on the ground and hold the biggest responsibility of moving the country forward. You will see some of these strides in the capital city, Kampala, commonly referred to as the city that never sleeps. Kampala is in a world of its own. Whether you are passing through, living in it, or lounging in it, you are bound to feel many emotions of love, hustle, and bustle. It’s a cosmopolitan city for everyone; foodies who will find any cuisine, travelers that want to revel in the nightlife, or entrepreneurs that want to start a business.
A Performer at Nyege Nyege
Kampala is not the only city with lights. This excitement extends to Jinja city which hosts one of the world’s best festivals, Nyege Nyege, a crowded throng of music enthusiasts who travel from as far as Berlin and Singapore to attend the three-day spree of art and music. I say all this to say that Uganda can hold her own. So grab your passport and your carry-on, and make your way here. You never know what unimaginable life lies ahead of you. It is the next step one should be excited about.